Stewardship
Lesson 1
Luke 12:42-48
Introduction
Today we will begin a six-week study on Stewardship (this will take us to Conference and then you’ll get a “New Pastor” who can do something different). I will admit that in my final weeks, my intention is to change your mind concerning what stewardship is. I want us to re-define and re-think what stewardship is so that we can be better stewards for God.
I. What is a steward?
a) The word translated here as manager is οἰκονόμος (oy-ko-no-mos). Our modern translations (NRSV, NIV, CSB) all translate the word as manager, the KJV translates it as steward. This is where we get the word from, and the word stewardship. As we will see, the 2 words are essentially the same.
b) οἰκονόμος means, “a kind of chief slave who superintended the household and even the whole property of his master.” It can also mean, “one who is in charge of separate branches of a household.” To put a slave in charge of a household would not have been unusual at that time. Slaves were commonly used to manage property, which was very different than the chattel slavery which was enforced in this country.
c) By the definition given, you can see how this can easily be translated as either steward, or manager. As we have commonly thought of the word steward, the definition fits our conception of the word; but the word manager also fits the definition of the word. So, while modern translations (as stated above) use the word manager, steward is also an appropriate translation. Because our study concerns stewardship (what it is to be a steward) our study will use both words interchangeably.
II. What are the traits or characteristics of a steward?
a) What characteristics must a person have in order to be a good steward? I want you to list 5 characteristics of what you believe to be a good steward:
1) ________________________________________
2) ________________________________________
3) ________________________________________
4) ________________________________________
5) ________________________________________
b) Titus 1:7
Stewardship
Lesson 1
c) Now that we have identified these 5 characteristics, let’s re-read the story in Luke to see if we can find these same characteristics?
III. How then do we define stewardship?
a) Here’s the dictionary definition of stewardship: “Administration, supervision, or management (as) by a steward. Here we can see the correlation between manager and steward; but this definition doesn’t fully give us the biblical meaning of the term.
b) This is the Bible dictionary definition of a steward: “An official who controls the affairs of a large household, overseeing the service at the master’s table, directing the household servants, and controlling the household expenses on behalf of the master.”
c) From the above we will say that stewardship is: the proper management of the affairs and property of our master. We will begin with this definition and re-define this as we continue through this study.
Next Week: Luke 12:42-48
Questions for the week:
1. Who is the master in this parable?
2. Why is the master away?
3. What is the responsibility of the steward while the master is away?